Employment Screening Resources (ESR), a nationwide background check firm accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), has achieved renewal of “Approved Provider” status from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), an internationally recognized certifying organization for the human resource (HR) profession. This distinction allows ESR to offer continuing HR-related education programs to more than 100,000 certified HR professionals seeking HRCI recertification credits. ESR’s term as Approved Provider is effective until December 31, 2014. ESR has been an HRCI Approved Provider since June of 2005.

ESR offers the program ‘Safe Hiring Certification Training’ (http://esr.coursehost.com/), an intensive online educational course designed for HR professionals that is an essential learning tool for anyone responsible for risk management and due diligence in hiring and pre-employment background screening. The course – which provides 20 hours of HRCI recertification credits – educates HR professionals on how to implement an effective and legal Safe Hiring Program (SHP) to minimize the risks that occur due to negligent hiring, and provides access to valuable lessons, quizzes, and activities designed to offer a broad and detailed understanding of current issues in hiring safely and legally. The course also includes information from ESR founder and CEO Les Rosen’s book ‘The Safe Hiring Manual,’ the first comprehensive guide to employment screening.

The ‘Safe Hiring Certification Training’ online course is available in two methods:

Master Course: Includes all lessons and materials and has been approved for 20 recertification credit hours toward Professional in Human Resources (PHR®), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®), and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR®) recertification through the HRCI.

Four Individual Modules: Allows users to take the same course in four separate parts to focus only on the units that apply to them. Each of the four modules has been approved for 5 recertification credit hours toward PHR®, SPHR® and GPHR® recertification through the HRCI.

In 2013, ESR will be providing a series of webinars and seminars on topics related to due diligence in hiring.

The Approved Provider program was implemented in 2003 after many organizations asked HRCI to review their educational activities in order to assure that the programs met all HRCI recertification requirements. Approved Providers are awarded a three-year contract in which qualified HR activities that they submit to HRCI are pre-approved for recertification credit. After three years, they may continue their Approved Provider status by renewing their contract. To become or remain an Approved Provider, applicants are required to complete training and pass a mandatory assessment test covering Approved Provider program policies and procedures and the HRCI’s body of knowledge.

To qualify for pre-approval credit, Approved Provider programs or events must add to an individual’s education about human resources and relate to the HRCI body of knowledge (www.hrci.org/Certification/bok). The programs must also be at least one hour in length, track attendance and participation, and be open to the general public. In addition, all HRCI Approved Providers must use the following disclaimer along with the official Approved Provider seal: “The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HR Certification Institute’s criteria to be preapproved for recertification credit.”

HRCI offers three certifications for practicing HR professionals: Professional in Human Resources (PHR®), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®), and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR®). In addition, HRCI offers a California-based certification that focuses on HR knowledge specific to California HR laws and practices. HR professionals who earn HRCI certification demonstrate they have learned the most current principles, laws, and core practices of HR management and have mastered the knowledge they need to manage all aspects of an organization’s human resources.

Established in 1976, the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) has more than 115,000 HR professionals worldwide maintaining HRCI’s credentials as a mark of high professional distinction demonstrating mastery and real-world application of forward-thinking HR practices, policies, and principles. To learn more about HRCI, visit http://www.hrci.org/.